Signaling over noisy channels

A receiver for receiving an arbitrary datum from a channel of a communication carrier and for receiving a signal over the channel comprising:

• (a) a modem for demodulating the arbitrary datum, the datum having been modulated by a modulation scheme;
• and
• (b) a detector to detect the signal, the signal having been sent via modifications of the carrier according to a modification scheme;
• wherein said modification scheme includes a pattern of modifications to the carrier;
• wherein the receiver further comprises:
• (c) a processor for identifying said pattern;
• and wherein said modulation scheme includes modulating a symbol onto the carrier over a symbol period and said pattern includes a plurality of said modifications within said symbol period.

A method of signaling during communication by a plurality of devices over a plurality of channels, comprising the steps of:

• (a) sending a first signal from a first device of the plurality of devices on a first channel of the plurality of channels, by steps including:
• (i) modulating a carrier of said first channel by a modulation scheme for transmitting an arbitrary datum, and
• (ii) modifying said carrier by a modification scheme for sending said first signal;
• and
• (b) listening by a second device for said signal over a subset of the plurality of channels, said subset containing said first channel and at least one other channels,
• wherein said second device includes a transmitter and said listening is for the sake of collision detection;
• and wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
• (c) resolving said collision;
• and
• (d) assigning a signal priority level to said first signal;
• and wherein said resolving is according to said signal priority level.

A system for communicating via a medium, comprising:

• (a) a plurality of devices for communicating via the medium, each said device including a transmitter for transmitting an arbitrary datum over a channel of a communication carrier via the medium and for sending a signal over the channel, each said transmitter including:
• (i) a modem for modulating the arbitrary datum according to a modulation scheme, and
• (ii) a signaling shifter to modify the medium according to a modification scheme;
• and
• (b) a testing subsystem for testing the communicating by said plurality of devices, said testing subsystem including:
• (i) an adjuster to change an attribute of the medium, and
• (ii) a DC power supply for supplying a DC voltage to the devices, the DC power supply being decoupled from transmissions by the devices.

A method of signaling during communication by a plurality of devices over a channel, comprising the steps of:

• (a) sending a first signal from a first device of the plurality of devices on the channel, by steps including:
• (i) modulating a carrier of the channel by a modulation scheme for transmitting an arbitrary datum, and
• (ii) modifying the carrier by a modification scheme for sending said first signal;
• and
• (b) listening by a second device for said signal on the channel for the sake of collision detection, said second device including a transmitter;
• (c) resolving said collision;
• and
• (d) assigning a signal priority level to said first signal;
• said resolving being according to said signal priority level.